Golf practice tee

ABSTRACT

A golf practice tee is in the shape of a donut and is formed of rubber-like material. The golf tee is used on a mat of a practice facility and holds a golf ball only slightly above the surface of the mat so a golfer can practice with irons or other such fairway clubs that generally require the golf ball to be resting on or only slightly above the ground.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the general art of sports and fitness, and to the particular field of golf.

2. Description of the Related Art

In the typical driving range of the present day, a driving mat or carpet is usually supported on a wooden or concrete platform. The mat is formed with a tee-receiving opening, and the tee is in a form like an upsidedown toadstool. Specifically, the tee is rubber and comprises a circular flat base from the center of which extends upward a tubular shank. The base sits on the platform under the mat and the shank extends upward through the opening in the mat and terminates upwardly in an open end on which the golf ball is teed. Usually the tee as described extends up above the top of the mat as much as an inch. It has been found that such teeing of the ball is unrealistic and the ball is positioned too high for use with irons or other fairway clubs.

Golfers generally tee golf balls up higher for clubs having a lower slant (i.e. a driver) and lower for clubs having less of a slant (i.e. a No. 3 wood). Golfers who use tees for irons generally only raise the ball a small amount from the ground. Likewise, when golfers practice at a driving range, most would generally prefer the option of varying the height at which a ball would be teed, depending again on the club which is used and the preference of the golfer. Many golf ranges have a very simple teeing system. There is a rubber mat on which the golfer stands. A hole is provided in the mat from which extends a generally thin flexible rubber or rubber-like tube upon which the ball is set. The tube is of one height, and the golfer must use that height when hitting golf balls from the tee.

Therefore, there is a need for a golf tee that can be used on a practice range and which is suitable for use with irons or other clubs that require the ball to be close to the ground.

There is also a need for a golf tee that can be used on a mat of a practice range and which is suitable for use with irons or other clubs that require the ball to be close to the mat.

PRINCIPAL OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is a main object of the present invention to provide a golf tee that can be used on a practice range and which is suitable for use with irons or other clubs that require the ball to be close to the ground.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a golf tee that can be used on a mat of a practice range and which is suitable for use with irons or other clubs that require the ball to be close to the mat.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These, and other, objects are achieved by an annular golf tee that is in the shape of a donut and is formed of rubber-like material. The tee will hold a golf ball slightly above a golf practice mat so a golfer can use irons or other clubs which generally are used with a ball sitting close to or on the ground rather than up on a tee.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a golf tee embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the Figures, it can be understood that the present invention is embodied in a golf practice tee 10 that is used on a mat of a practice facility such as a driving range. Golf practice tee 10 has an annular body 12 formed of rubber-like material, such as closed cell foam. Body 12 has an annulus 14 defined therein and an outer surface 16. Annular body 12 has an upright dimension 18 measured with respect to the outer surface 16 and which is oriented to be upright, and essentially vertical, when the golf tee 10 is in use as shown in FIG. 2. Dimension 18 is less than one-fourth inch so that a golf ball B resting on the body 12 will be supported above a surface, such as a golf mat M, at a height that is suitable for irons or other clubs that require the ball to be on or only slightly above the ground.

Body 12 is in the shape of a donut so that it has a first surface 20 that is a top surface when the tee 10 is in use, and a second surface 22 which is a bottom surface when the tee 10 is in use. Bottom surface 22 rests on mat M and top surface 20 supports the golf ball. The top surface 20 has a diameter 24 which is measured between the intersection of dimension 18 and top surface 20 and the bottom surface 22 has a diameter 26 which is measured between the intersection of dimension 18 and bottom surface 22. The top and bottom surfaces 20, 22 are in parallel planes as can be understood from FIG. 2. The donut shape of the golf tee 10 makes diameter 24 equal in length to diameter 26. The donut shape of golf practice tee 10 supports the golf ball in a more normal orientation for a fairway club than other shapes and is easier to manufacture.

Use of golf practice tee 10 is simple: the golfer places tee 10 on a mat, places a golf ball on the tee 10, and strikes the ball with an iron or the like. The low height of tee 10 will permit the iron to cut under the ball in a manner which accurately simulates the shot on the course whereby the golfer can accurately practice hitting irons or the like on a practice range.

It is understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts described and shown. 

1. A golf practice tee comprising: an annular body formed of rubber-like material, said body being donut-shaped and having an annulus defined therein, an outer surface, a first surface which is a top surface when said body is in use, a second surface which is a bottom surface when said body is in use, said annular body further having an upright dimension that extends between the first surface and the second surface and is oriented in an upright orientation when said body is in use, the upright dimension being less than one-fourth inch, said body further having a first diameter measured on the first surface with respect to the upright dimension, a second diameter on measured on the second surface with respect to the upright dimension, the first and second diameters being oriented in parallel planes and the first diameter being equal to the second diameter, said annular body being adapted to support a golf ball on the first surface above a golf practice surface.
 2. The golf practice tee as described in claim 1 wherein said rubber-like material is closed-cell foam. 